Future construction at Berclair airfield faces tough crowd

Capt. Dave Edgecomb, with the U.S. Navy, of Corpus Christi, talks to a crowd interested in learning more about what will happen to the Goliad Airfield. The U.S. Navy held an open house to answer questions Tuesday afternoon at the Berclair Mansion.

CONSTRUCTION RUNDOWN

Demolition on existing building will happen mid-November to mid-December.

Construction of new buildings on site will begin early December and last to mid-May. This includes a new fire station and support building.

Construction on the runway will begin in early December and last until mid-May. This includes new airfield asphalt and lighting.

Fence construction around the site perimeter will begin in early December to April. The fence will be 12-feet high.

BERCLAIR - Jim Turner stuck his finger in an incriminatory manner at one of five 3-by-5-foot detailed blueprints sitting under the shade of the Berclair Mansion.

"Look, right there," he said getting the attention of his friend, Dave Dixon. The two own a ranch by the former Goliad County Airpark, which will soon begin the transformation into an airfield for the U.S. Navy.

Members of the U.S. Navy from Corpus Christi met with concerned area residents to talk about the transformation, but residents feel even more in the dark than ever because questions regarding pending litigation were not answered.

Goliad County filed suit against the U.S. Navy's condemnation suit, a measure to claim the airfield by eminent domain.

About 30 people stood around with arms crossed listening to Capt. Dave Edgecomb talk about some of the construction facts. The discussion lasted about five minutes.

"Construction will begin Nov. 15," he said to a hushed crowd. "There will be the demolition of some structures on the airfield. Again, to do our mission."

The project is expected to be completed by May 26. It will be used by the Navy to practice touch-and-go flight training on a new T-6 aircraft.

Bryan Miles with The Ross Group, is the project manager, and explained that the runways would be redone with new asphalt and runway lighting.

Also, there will be a new fire station and living quarters for people working at the airfield.

"We still haven't gotten to the bone of it," Turner said with Dixon by his side.